Crime of the Week

If you have any information about these crimes or any person(s) involved, you are urged to call Crime Stoppers at or submit a Web Tip . You do not have to give your name. CRIME STOPPERS will pay a cash reward of up to $3,000 and you can remain anonymous.

The Harvest House at 300 Mountain Drive in Destin is being targeted repeatedly by individuals stealing items donated to help the less fortunate. In the most recent incident the night of November 26th, a man broke through a wooden gate and then into the business walk-in freezer where meat and frozen vegetables are stored for needy individuals and families. Deputies say the subject made several trips back and forth to his vehicle, a silver or light-colored Chevrolet Suburban shown above.

The freezer, which had recently been purchased, was damaged when the man beat the locking mechanism off of the freezer door and will cost approximately six-hundred dollars to replace.

Harvest House employees say luckily, the vast majority of food had already been distributed during Thanksgiving week, but the man did steal an estimated fifteen frozen chickens left inside. He was also seen walking to the donation area and removing light bulbs and items from several boxes.

Video surveillance revealed that the thief was wearing an oversized sweat suit and it also appeared to show a trailer hitch attached to the SUV. He left the scene around 10:38 p.m.

Anyone with information on the crime is asked to contact the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office at 850-651-7400 or Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers at 850-863-TIPS.

The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a robbery that occurred on Saturday night, October 27th, at a store in Destin. A clerk at the Exxon Big Boss, located at 34884 Emerald Coast Parkway, says a man came in around 11:10 p.m. and pushed something into her side that she believed to be a gun. He stole cash and other items before making her go into a closet. The suspect also mentioned that he needed the money to get home to his kids. The robber is described as a white male in his late twenties to early thirties who was clean-shaven with sandy brown-blonde hair. He was wearing blue jeans, a light colored zip up jacket, black toboggan with patches on it and work boots. The clerk was not injured. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THESE ROBBERIES WHO WANTS TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS AND BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CASH REWARD IS ASKED TO CALL EMERALD COAST CRIME STOPPERS AT 1-850-863-TIPS (8477) or toll-free at 1-888-654-TIPS. Log onto www.emeraldcoastcrimestoppers.com or text your info to CRIMES (274637) and put tip214 plus your message.

The City of Crestview Police Department responded to Jin Jin’s Chinese Restaurant located at 642 South Ferdon Boulevard last night, October 14th, 2012 at 10:39 p.m. in reference to an Armed Robbery.

When Officers arrived on scene, it was determined that three black males, who concealed their faces with t-shirts, entered into the business armed with a black revolver, and demanded money from the cashier. When the cashier handed them the money from the register, they then took a tip jar off of the counter and fled the business.

The three suspects then fled the business on foot, running south on Ferdon Boulevard. The suspects are described as three thin built black males, one covering his face with a red t-shirt, and two covering their faces with white t-shirts. The three suspects are believed to be in their teens or early twenties.

The Crestview Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division continues to investigate this case, and the suspects have not been identified in this case at this time. Anyone with information in reference to this case is asked to contact the Crestview Police Department at 850-682-3544. Or Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers at 850-863-TIPS (8477).

The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a reported home invasion robbery that took place around 12:30 a.m. on the morning of September 29th at residence on Willow Grove Lane in Fort Walton Beach. The victim stated that he was sleeping at the residence when he heard a loud noise and then two males entered his bedroom and demanded money. One of the suspects was armed with a black handgun. When the suspects were unable to find the victim’s wallet, they struck the victim in the face and then fled the residence. The victim was unable to provide a description of the suspects but believed they were possibly black males.

ANYONE WITH INFORMATION WHO WANTS TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS AND BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CASH REWARD IS ASKED TO CALL EMERALD COAST CRIME STOPPERS AT 1-850-863-TIPS (8477) or toll-free at 1-888-654-TIPS. Log onto www.emeraldcoastcrimestoppers.com or text your info to CRIMES (274637) and put tip214 plus your message.

The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s office is investigating a series of recent robberies of businesses and individuals since September 29th. Investigators are working to determine if the crimes are connected, noting they share a number of similar characteristics.

The most recent robbery took place on October 9th around 11:30 p.m. when an employee of Sonny’s Barbecue on Beal Parkway walking to his car says a man came up from behind him, pointed a gun at him, and demanded his wallet. The robber then ran across Patrick Drive. He is described as a black male, approximately 5’8" tall, weighing 160 pounds and wearing a light colored shirt, long shorts, a black due rag on his head and a piece of black clothing over his face. A second black male was seen meeting the robber. They both then ran away.

Two other cases include an armed home invasion robbery on Willow Grove Lane and the robbery of two females on Dell Road in Fort Walton Beach, both on the night of September 29th.The next evening, September 30th, an employee at Cash’s Liquor Store on Miracle Strip Parkway in Mary Esther says she was hit in the head and robbed of a bank bag as she walked to her car; and a man reported being robbed of his cash and a cell phone in the City of Fort Walton Beach after he gave a ride to three males.

Business owners and citizens alike should be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement immediately.

Anyone with information on the robberies is asked to contact the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office at 850-651-7400 or Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers at 850-863-TIPS.

The Okaloosa County Sheriff`s Office is requesting help reference a burglary and criminal mischief case. On August 6, 2012 deputies were called to an apartment complex under construction at Conservation Trail in Fort Walton Beach and discovered major damage to several apartments throughout the complex. The front doors of most of the units had been broken as well as mirrors and light fixtures inside the apartments. Damage was also done to the walls and windows. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION WHO WANTS TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS AND BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CASH REWARD IS ASKED TO CALL EMERALD COAST CRIME STOPPERS AT 1-850-863-TIPS (8477) or toll-free at 1-888-654-TIPS. Log onto www.emeraldcoastcrimestoppers.com or text your info to CRIMES (274637) and put tip214 plus your message.

The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an armed robbery that occurred at a Mary Esther convenience store during the early morning hours of 07/10/2012.

Deputies responded to a robbery at the Tom Thumb Store located at 1480 US Highway 98 in Mary Esther at approximately 3:05 a.m.

Witnesses stated two black males came into the store armed with knives. The suspects demanded cash and also took some tobacco products then fled on foot behind the store towards Rush Park Circle.

One of the suspects was wearing a light gray colored hoodie, with dark pants and white tennis shoes. The other suspect had on a brown colored hoodie with dark pants and dark tennis shoes. Both suspects were wearing bandanas on their faces and are described as having normal builds and were approximately 6” tall.

ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THIS ROBBERY WHO WANTS TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS AND BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CASH REWARD IS ASKED TO CALL EMERALD COAST CRIME STOPPERS AT 1-850-863-TIPS (8477) or toll-free at 1-888-654-TIPS. Log onto www.emeraldcoastcrimestoppers.com or text your info to CRIMES (274637) and put tip214 plus your message.

Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers and the Okaloosa County Sheriff`s Office are asking for information about recent vadalism that occurred in the Shalimar Pointe Drive sometime overnight April 27 to April 28. Residents woke up to find that their vehicles and homes had been spray painted with obsene and offensive images. The Shalimar Golf Course was also vandalized.

ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THIS VANDALISM WHO WANTS TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS AND BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CASH REWARD IS ASKED TO CALL EMERALD COAST CRIME STOPPERS AT 1-850-863-TIPS (8477) or toll-free at 1-888-654-TIPS. Log onto www.emeraldcoastcrimestoppers.com or text your info to CRIMES (274637) and put tip214 plus your message.

Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers and the Crestview Police Department are trying to identify four suspects that robbed an Exxon Gas Station on April 28, 2012. At approximately 10:45 p.m., four black suspects walked in the store located on Main Street and demanded money from the clerk at gunpoint.

ANYONE WITH INFORMATION WHO WANTS TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS AND BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CASH REWARD IS ASKED TO CALL EMERALD COAST CRIME STOPPERS AT 1-850-863-TIPS (8477) or toll-free at 1-888-654-TIPS. Log onto www.emeraldcoastcrimestoppers.com or text your info to CRIMES (274637) and put tip214 plus your message.

Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers and the Okaloosa County Sheriff`s Office are attempting to identify a man that stole two rings from two separate jewelry stores in Santa Rosa Mall. On 02/28/2012 at approximately 7:50 p.m., a white male suspect walked into the jewelry store and asked the clerk to see a 1/2 ct. blue diamond ring and when the clerk handed the suspect the ring, he took off running. On 02/29/2012 at approximately 8:00 p.m., the same suspect went into another jewelry store in Santa Rosa Mall and told the clerk he was interested in a 1/2 ct. blue diamond ring. When the clerk pulled the ring out of the case the suspect snatched the ring out of the clerk`s hand and fled. The rings were valued at $859.00 each.

The suspect is described as a white male, approximately 29-35 years old, 5`11-6` tall, blue eyes and had large holes in his ears but no earrings at the time.

ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THIS SUSPECT`S IDENTITY WHO WANTS TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS AND BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CASH REWARD IS ASKED TO CALL EMERALD COAST CRIME STOPPERS AT 1-850-863-TIPS (8477) or toll-free at 1-888-654-TIPS. Log onto www.emeraldcoastcrimestoppers.com or text your info to CRIMES (274637) and put tip214 plus your message.